The members of the Okinawa Traditional Karate Liaison Bureau wish you a Happy New Year 2016, Year of the Monkey!

Looking back at history, some past “Saru-doshi” or Year of the Monkey have seen some auspicious events in regards to karate and its development.

After the first tribute payment by Ryukyu to Chinese Ming in 1372 (Year of the Rat), tributary relations were consolidated with the first visit of Chinese envoys to Ryukyu in 1404, year of the Monkey. Later, in 1488, also under the same zodiac sign, Aji chieftains were gathered in the surroundings of the Shuri Castle and weapons such as bow, arrows, swords and the likes were confiscated. For many, these events are linked to the development of empty hand methods that would later been known as karate.

Directly related to karate, the Saru-doshi 1740 was the year of birth of Chatan Yara Rido. Born in the Yara family who once managed the Chatan Yara estate, the 5th generation Yara Rido is a famous martial artist remembered for no less than devising “Chatan Yara no Sai”, “Chatan Yara no Kun” and the nowadays famous empty hand kata “Chatan Yara no Kusanku”. Most likely coincidentally, he passed away on another Year of the Monkey, 1812, at the age of 72, an age at that epoch as impressive as his legacy.

A little more controversial, 1872 was the year of the establishment of the Ryukyu Domain, which put a stop to the Ryukyu Kingdom. 7 years later, the Okinawa Prefecture would be established. While Okinawa was being remolded into a Japanese Prefecture, Itosu Anko chose the Year of the Monkey 1908 to submit his “Karate Ten Articles” to the prefecture’s school affairs division. This marked the beginning of karate’s instruction in schools and the popularization of the art which is now enjoyed by many as a martial art and a sport.

Speaking of sport, did you know that 1896, the year of the 1st Olympic Games held in Athens was also a Saru-doshi? Some sport minded people might see this as a good sign for karate’s inclusion into the Olympic. Like it or not, we will have the answer in August in Rio de Janeiro. But regardless of the decision, this will precede another milestone for Okinawa karate: the opening of the “Okinawa Karate Kaikan” (in Japanese), scheduled for the Fall of this 2016.

Indifferent to the sign of the zodiac, we, at the Okinawa Traditional Karate Liaison Bureau will keep promoting Okinawa traditional karate and support people so that they can train in the birthplace of karate with masters of karate and kobujutsu. We also hope that this year will be a fruitful one for our new project, the Karate Expansion Forum. We hope that you will visit and accept the challenge of joining this new community

A five-day intensive seminar designed to learn one of three ryuha (Shorin-Ryu, Goju-Ryu, or Uechi-Ryu) is organized in Okinawa in January 2016.

The lesson focuses on detailed instructions of the representative kata, bunkai (application of kata in fighting), and yakusoku kumite (pre-arranged fighting in pairs) of Okinawa karate. Participants will perform what they have learned on the final day of the seminar. Also, participants will receive a certificate of completion.

Erected in April 2007, the Funakoshi Gichin Monument stood at the entrance of Onoyama Park until February 2015. Taken away because of land redevelopment, it took only 9 months for Tatetsu Meichō, the stele’s originator and head of the Okinawa Funakoshi Praising Group to secure a new site. Since November 27, date of an official ceremony attended by Okinawan and Mainland Japanese and foreign officials, the monument proudly stands at the entrance of Oki no Gu, one the 8 Shinto shrines of the Ryukyu, in the same Onoyama Park where Funakoshi sensei used to come in his youth.

The head of Shidōkan Brazil, Yonamine Kazunori sensei unfortunately passed away on October 22nd due to a cancer. He was 68 years old. Born in Haebaru Town in 1947, Yonamine sensei immigrated to Brazil in 1960. Having started karate in 1962 under Shinzato Yoshihide sensei, he later received instruction from Miyahira Katsuya sensei. Miyahira sensei gave him the permission to found the Shidōkan of Brazil in 1990. Promoted Hanshi 9th dan in 2007, his association has now more than 13 dojo. May he rest in peace.

Chinen Teruo sensei passed away on September 9, 2015. Born in 1941, he was a student of Miyazato Eichi sensei, founder of the famous Jundokan. Later on, he established himself in Spokane, USA and travelled the world to teach Okinawa Goju-ryu.

The third Soke of Uechi-ryu, Uechi Kanmei sensei passed away September 13, 2015. Born in 1942 as the son of Uechi Kanei sensei, he succeeded his father at the head of the school in 1991. He is succeeded by 3 sons, Kansho, Kanji and Kanyu.